Betty Brussel took up competitive swimming at in her mid-sixties. Now 99, she’s won hundreds of medals - and just broke three world records in her age group. “When I swim, I feel so happy,” said Brussel, who lives in British Columbia. “It’s the most relaxing feeling to just glide through the water.”...
Betty Brussel took up competitive swimming at in her mid-sixties. Now 99, she’s won hundreds of medals - and just broke three world records in her age group.
“When I swim, I feel so happy,” said Brussel, who lives in British Columbia. “It’s the most relaxing feeling to just glide through the water.”
Last weekend, she broke the world record in her age group for the 400-meter freestyle - she swam it in 12 minutes and 50 seconds - beating the previous record-holder by nearly four minutes. Brussel competes in the 100-to-104 age category, as categories are determined by birth year.
She also set a new record for the 50-meter breaststroke, which she did in one minute and 52 seconds, and the 50-meter backstroke, which took her one minute and 24 seconds.
You made that sound really goofy by saying birth date.
They go by year born and not date born. So right now for instance, you're at 100 years if you were born in 1924, regardless of if you've had your birthday yet.
Not to take away from a 99-year-old still competing athletically, which is impressive obviously, but I'm always amused with these stories about 114-year-old man sets record for fastest time doing 100-meter-hurdles in the over-110s category. New record time is 12 hours, 3 minutes and 2 seconds.
Betty Brussel took up competitive swimming at in her mid-sixties. Now 99, she’s won hundreds of medals - and just broke three world records in her age group.
For everybody thinking it's too late, shut the hell up and get to work on your dreams!
I took up swimming in my late 30s and now I can swim fairly competitively. It's rough in the beginning but once it clicks, it's one of the best feelings in the world.